Colossians 1:13-18; NKJV
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
To "have the preeminence" is to be first in rank or influence (Strong's).
To "have the preeminence" is to hold the first place (Thayer's).
To "have the preeminence" is to be first (Vine's).
Jesus Christ is to be first because of who He is.
1. The King (1:13)
2. The Son of His love (1:13)
3. The Image of God (1:15)
4. The Firstborn Over All Creation (1:14)
5. The Creator (1:16)
6. Deity (1:17)
7. The Head of the Body, the Church (1:18)
8. The Beginning (1:18)
9. The Firstborn from the Dead (1:18)
